Madrid NM

Madrid (pronounced mad-rid) is a former ghost town that was invaded by artists and other assorted characters. It's about 40 miles south of Santa Fe on Hwy 14, otherwise known as the Turquoise Trail.

Welcome to Madrid, NM

Ghostly traces of former residences can found all over town.

The ghost of Sears & Roebuck

Former ghost town now houses humans

Madrid has a lively mix of art galleries and other businesses... all more affordable than Canyon Road.

Courtyard of a coffee shop

with it's own mix of found objects

A colorful clothing store

Many of the artists in Madrid specialize in what I call Junk Art, but they call "Recycle Art."  No matter what you call it, many of the pieces are pretty inventive with objects that may have ended up in the local dump.  In fact, the baristra at the coffee shop tells the local joke that the reason there's so much junk used for art in this town is nobody wants to pay dump fees.

Faces from an array of cast off objects

Toaster art for Doug

Bottle cap fish for Pete

We stop at the Range West garden fountain shop and lo and behold we finally find the perfect rock for our patio garden project (after looking for two years ... or more).  What's the perfect rock? It's the one that Peter and I both agree we like. Yup - that's right, we hadn't found one we both could agreed on before. Sally - thank you for being so patient with us. The rock came from the Lazarus Valley gold mine.  It has some streaks of gold and even some turquoise in it.  We love it.

The perfect rock

Top bubbler

Peter demoing size

After we make arrangements with Josh for a minor adjustment to add more of a basin to the bubbler  and the shipping, we happily ride off into the sunset back to Sante Fe.

Uh Josh your dog Fuzz, may not be the best guard dog for your shop

Santa Fe

On the road to Santa Fe

After enjoying ourselves at Riverbend Hot Springs we have a nice lunch at Happy Belly Deli, gas up and get back on the freeway headed north.

Hummm... maybe I should cut back on Nachos

New Mexico drivers can be unpredictable with disastrous consequences

I-25 parallels the Rio Grande River for much of the way.  It's odd to see bright green fields and orchards in the middle of a dry desert.

Farms along the Rio Grande

Rio Grande River

The biggest change we notice since last being in this area a little over five years ago is the increase in casinos on Indian reservations.  We have discovered they are good places to buy gas as it is usually cheaper than the stations in towns. We just hope the tribes themselves are benefiting from these casinos and not just the legal (or illegal) business partners they might be working with.

Hard Rock Casino

Sandia Peak Casino

Hollywood Casino

About mid afternoon we come into Santa Fe.  The Sangra de Christo mountains behind the city still have snow on them.

Approaching Santa Fe city limits

Soon we are settled in the lovely 55+ Trailer Ranch RV Park.  Since this is our first experience staying in an 55+ park, we aren't too sure about them. However, Joanie, the manager, jokingly assigns us to the "honeymoon suite" and gives us all kinds of handouts with information on how best to get around Santa Fe for free, the best restaurants and things to do. She makes us feel right at home with her warm welcome. It's not only a great place to stay but well located for getting around Santa Fe. We do decide to rent a car from Enterprise and are delighted to be given a very reasonable weekend rate.

Just inside the park entrance

The Office

Our "honeymoon suite" with rented Camry

The next morning Kathy, an old friend of ours who works at Los Alamos Labs, meets us for breakfast and the Saturday morning Farmers' Market in the Santa Fe Railyard, which has been recently been redeveloped as a shopping area drawin a good crowd of both locals and tourists. The Farmers' Market is in a large building, especially during the colder parts of the year, but spills into the outside surrounding area during the warmer months. We buy New Mexico spices, salad greens, bread and Holy Chipolte goat cheese.

Santa Fe Railyard

Trains waiting on the tracks

Inside the covered Farmers' Market

We have a great time wandering around Santa Fe and catching up with Kathy. Who knows? We may even be all traveling together in New Zealand after she retires next year.  It's on all of our bucket lists. Later we drive around Santa Fe and drink in all the sights on a beautiful spring day.

Classic Adobe home

Spring blossoms against blue skies

Ahhhh... Spring in Santa Fe

Since we've been to all the main galleries and museums around the plaza at the center of town on a previous trip, we decide to check out some of our favorite galleries on Canyon Road.

Spring on Canyon Road

An owl for Holly

My favorite Navajo rug gallery - except for the prices

The main stop we make is the Wiford Gallery that has wonderful silent wind mobiles for gardens. We fell in love with them on our last visit and wanted to make sure they're still available. Yup - they are, but they haven't gotten any cheaper {sigh}.

Sign for gallery with rock garden chairs

The main gallery with wind mobiles

The garden

In one of the galleries, we find something we're not sure what it is.

What is this? A furry sculpture?

OMG - it's a DOG!

Since these prices are beyond our budget, we decide to leave Canyon Road for something more affordable.

Riverbend Hot Springs

On the road to Truth or Consequences

After exploring the Gila Cliff Dwellings, we start off for Riverbend Hot Springs which is close to Truth or Consequences (sounds like a TV game show). The road takes us through varied terrain and over two mountain passes.

High grassy range between forested hills

Dry rocky canyons

The highest one we've gone over so far is Emory Pass (8,228 ft) in the Black Mountain Range.  This road has so many switchbacks, we start to joke about the number of horse shoe turns. At the top we find snow and tall pines. The steep descent quickly brings us to drier, rockier county and eventually back to the desert floor.

Emory Pass Summit

Red rock outcrop

Deep river gorge

Riverbend Hot Springs

By late afternoon, we stop at the hot springs hoping to get an RV spot, only to learn they have just passed out the last one. Fortunately, we've got a plan B and end up at Elephant Butte Lake RV Resort.  After the Gila Wilderness, it seems a bit sparse on the desert floor; however, what's great about this particular RV park is it's wonderful facilities.  Peter and I both treat ourselves to luxurious showers.

Our camp site at Elephant Butte Lake

We're packed up early to spend some time at the hot springs.  Riverbend Hot Springs has a wonderfully artsy look and feel that appeals to us right away.

Office for registration

Hand build wall

The location right on the Rio Grande River is truly wonderful.

Pool and patio over looking the Rio Grande

Guest lodging

Peter enjoys a hot pool overlooking the river

We elect to get the public access day passes for around $10 each. That Friday morning isn't at all crowded. We meet a couple from LA, Maya and Keith.  Sylvia, the owner, tells us how she and her husband bought the hot springs over 20 years ago as a minnow hatchery for fishermen along the Rio Grande.  The hot pools seen below, were originally used to grow minnows in.  Unfortunately, the bait business simply didn't pan out. So they decided to take a chance on developing the abundant hot springs water from the aquifer just under their property.  Over the years, they have gradually improved the resort to where it is today.

Peter, Maya and Keith enjoying the baths in what was once minnow pools

Sylvia sits with us and tells us about developing the springs and the local lore about the healing properties of the region

It seems like all hot springs have at least one guardian cat.  Minnow is the kitty on duty here.

Sleep well Minnow - we hope to see you again real soon